📖 Overview
America at War, 1917-1918 examines the United States' involvement in World War I through both military and civilian perspectives. Paxson documents the nation's rapid transformation from a neutral power into a key participant in the global conflict.
The narrative covers the mobilization of American industry, the formation and deployment of the military forces, and the sweeping changes to daily life on the home front. Details of military campaigns and battles are interwoven with accounts of economic policies, propaganda efforts, and social reforms that reshaped American society.
From diplomatic relations to battlefield tactics, Paxson presents a comprehensive study of this pivotal period in U.S. history. The text incorporates official records, personal accounts, and contemporary sources to construct its chronicle of the American war experience.
The book stands as an exploration of how war can accelerate social change and modernization, while highlighting the complex relationship between military necessity and civil liberties in times of national crisis.
👀 Reviews
There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Frederic L. Paxson's overall work:
Limited reader reviews and ratings exist online for Frederic L. Paxson's works, as most were published in the early 1900s.
What readers liked:
- Academic readers value the detailed research and primary source documentation in "History of the American Frontier"
- Several reviewers note his clear writing style and thorough analysis in "The Last American Frontier"
- History students appreciate his systematic coverage of Western expansion
What readers disliked:
- Some modern readers find his early 20th century writing style dense and dated
- A few reviewers mention that newer scholarship has updated or challenged some of his conclusions
- Limited maps and visual aids in most editions
Available ratings:
Goodreads (very limited data):
- "The Last American Frontier": 3.5/5 (4 ratings)
- "History of the American Frontier": No ratings
- "America at War": No ratings
Most reviews come from academic journals rather than general readers. Few public reviews exist on major retail or review sites.
📚 Similar books
Over Here: The First World War and American Society by David M. Kennedy
This book examines how World War I transformed American society through military mobilization, government expansion, and social changes on the home front.
To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918 by Adam Hochschild The book chronicles America's entry into World War I through the perspectives of both supporters and opponents of the war.
The Second Coming of the KKK: The Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s and the American Political Tradition by Linda Gordon This work connects World War I's aftermath to the rise of nationalism and social movements in 1920s America.
The War to End All Wars: The American Military Experience in World War I by Edward M. Coffman The book presents a military history of American forces in World War I from training through major battles and occupation duty.
The Long Shadow: The Legacies of the Great War in the Twentieth Century by David Reynolds This work traces how World War I's political, cultural, and economic impact shaped American development through the twentieth century.
To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918 by Adam Hochschild The book chronicles America's entry into World War I through the perspectives of both supporters and opponents of the war.
The Second Coming of the KKK: The Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s and the American Political Tradition by Linda Gordon This work connects World War I's aftermath to the rise of nationalism and social movements in 1920s America.
The War to End All Wars: The American Military Experience in World War I by Edward M. Coffman The book presents a military history of American forces in World War I from training through major battles and occupation duty.
The Long Shadow: The Legacies of the Great War in the Twentieth Century by David Reynolds This work traces how World War I's political, cultural, and economic impact shaped American development through the twentieth century.
🤔 Interesting facts
🌟 Frederic L. Paxson won the 1925 Pulitzer Prize for History for this detailed account of American mobilization during World War I.
🌟 The book was one of the first comprehensive studies of America's domestic transformation during wartime, examining how the nation converted from a peacetime to wartime economy.
🌟 Paxson served on the Committee on Public Information during WWI, giving him firsthand experience with the propaganda and public relations efforts he later described in the book.
🌟 The author spent five years gathering material from government documents, personal papers, and interviews with key figures to create this authoritative work.
🌟 Despite being published in 1939, the book remains a primary source for scholars studying American home front operations during World War I, particularly regarding the organization of industry and labor.